Mary Anne Gargaro

Mary Anne (Frenzel) Gargaro, 82, of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2026, after a courageous battle with Corticobasal Syndrome.

Born on February 1, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, to Alice (Dohany) Frenzel and Robert Frenzel, Mary Anne grew up in Grosse Pointe alongside her older brother, Bobby.

After graduating from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe in 1962, Mary Anne pursued her education with characteristic curiosity and determination. She began her collegiate studies at Georgetown Visitation Junior College in Washington, D.C., transferred to Loyola University, and spent a transformative sophomore year studying in Rome, Italy, before completing her degree at the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Arts in April 1966. A devoted Wolverine fan to the end, she could be found on game days in her U of M sweater, singing the fight song with enthusiasm.

Mary Anne channeled her love of learning into teaching Language Arts and English in both Detroit and East Detroit Public Schools. She continued to give back through years of dedicated volunteer tutoring, mentoring elementary students in urban Detroit.

It was in grade school that Mary Anne first crossed paths with Gene, who would become her husband. Gene pursued her after college and law school, and in April 1970, they were married in Grosse Pointe — beginning a partnership of 56 years built on love, shared purpose, and deep mutual admiration.

An accomplished athlete, Mary Anne competed on both the tennis court and the golf course, where she achieved two memorable holes-in-one. She enjoyed jogging, swimming, skiing — and found equal pleasure in creating floral arrangements for garden club contests, hunting for prized additions to her cherished collections, and gathering with friends at the Mahjong table.

As much as Mary Anne loved teaching, she was forever a student herself. Travel was one of her greatest passions; whether exploring the United States, Europe, or Asia, she never passed up a museum or missed an opportunity to immerse herself in a new culture. Her intellectual curiosity also extended to the financial world — she followed and invested in the markets, read widely, and remained an engaged viewer of CNBC's Fast Money throughout her illness, a testament to the sharpness of her mind and the strength of her spirit.

Mary Anne's devotion to her community was evident in every organization she touched. Her passion for education, the arts, and gardening led her to leadership roles in the Junior League of Detroit, Tau Beta Association, The Garden Club of Michigan, the Detroit Institute of Arts, John's Island Community Service League, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Collecting American Art, Tiffany inkwells and art glass led Mary Anne to a particularly meaningful chapter of service at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where she was elected as an Honorary Director and served as Chair for the Associates of the American Wing Auxiliary. Her work on the museum's Learning and Interpretation Committee was very important to her, and her presence at official DIA functions made her an indispensable partner to Gene in cultivating lasting relationships with museum colleagues and supporters. In May 2015, Mary Anne and Gene were jointly honored with the DIA's Lifetime Service Awards, recognized for their extraordinary volunteer contributions and dedication to the museum's success.

Mary Anne lived fully and joyfully, and knew how to celebrate. Her spooky Halloween dinners with her Convent of the Sacred Heart classmates, her beautifully set tables, her happy holiday decorations, her discerning eye for jewelry and fashion — all of it reflected a woman who believed deeply in savoring life's special moments. Her family admired the care she brought to every detail, large and small.

She will be remembered for her fun-loving personality, hearty laugh, "can do" attitude, and the extraordinary strength and resilience with which she faced Corticobasal Syndrome over her final eight years. Her spirit will live on in the memories, traditions, and love she leaves behind.

Mary Anne is survived by her beloved husband, Gene; her son, Gene Gargaro III of Grosse Pointe Woods; her daughter, Lauren Gargaro Grace (Michael) of Greenwich, Connecticut; her granddaughters, Maryanne and Alice Grace; and six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Frenzel.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at K & K Eldercare and Hospice of Michigan, whose skilled and loving care was a profound comfort during Mary Anne's final years.

Funeral services will be held privately in the family chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Mausoleum. A memorial service for Mary Anne will be announced and scheduled at a future date.

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In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Mary Anne's memory to:

• Tau Beta Association (taubeta.org) — to benefit The Children's Center in Detroit

• The Garden Club of Michigan — to benefit The Piet Oudolf Garden on Belle Isle, Detroit ([email protected])